The sight of Mick Galwey limping from Thomond Park after 34 minutes proved disquieting not only for a Shannon team struggling to translate territorial dominance into scores but also suggested greater ramifications for Munster.
Galwey initially received four stitches to a deep, two-inch gash just below the knee, but on later examination he was sent to the Limerick Regional Hospital.
There the wound was re-stitched and the leg put in plaster. The prognosis is that Galwey has no better than a 50/50 chance of being available for Saturday week's crucial European Cup tie between Munster and Saracens at Thomond Park.
Fellow Shannon players John Hayes and Anthony Foley, who did not play yesterday, are expected to be available to Munster.
But that is scant consolation for the Thomond Park club who lost their second successive match of the league campaign to a Young Munster team that displayed tremendous character while surviving on a modicum of possession.
Shannon coach Pat Murray encapsulated a dismal afternoon for his side: "We had enough possession to win the game but we missed vital kicks."
Therein lay the nub of the home side's problems. Centre Conor Burke could only convert two placekicks from five attempts, in marked contrast to Munsters full back Tom Cregan who kicked five from six attempts, and struck an upright with the other.
It was ironic that the 21-year-old should prove the architect of a Munsters' victory, having spent last season languishing on the seconds at Shannon. During the summer he made the short journey to Tom Clifford Park and yesterday heralded a triumphant return to Thomond Park with his five penalties, including a magnificent effort from just inside the Shannon half to win the match.
It was no more than Munsters deserved if only for their remarkable obduracy: every time Shannon edged ahead the visitors responded in kind. Three forays into enemy territory in the opening 40 minutes yielded three scores: two penalties and a try from flanker Ger Earls. Shannon could not translate territorial ascendancy into points, and spurned opportunities through reckless and ill-judged kicking when the Munsters rearguard was stretched to a thin black line.
Jim Galvin, despite dropping two fine goals, was particularly culpable; his first option seemed always to kick, and he could have rescued his side in injury time. Referee David Tyndall had already awarded Shannon a penalty under the posts but twice allowed advantage as Shannon edged to within inches of the line. When the point of attack was smartly switched to the short-side, Galvin enjoyed a three-on-two overlap but elected to go himself and was stopped in a double tackle a foot short.
Tyndall adjudged that Shannon had used up their advantage and so the simple three points - it would have given them a share of the spoils - went a-begging.
It was to prove symptomatic of the recklessness that Shannon displayed in the closing minutes. Twice captain Mark McDermott elected to kick to touch from penalties in the dying minutes, the second time inside the Munsters 22: Burke's inaccuracy with the boot raised questions about the decision-making.
Munsters coach John Fitzgerald held a different view. "They didn't give us the respect we deserve. They were a little bit cocky," he said, referring to Shannon's decision twice to kick to touch in the hope of conjuring a try.
"There's a proud tradition in Young Munster, we'd never give up," he added. "We just stuck at it and took our chances. The players showed great character. We were never going to give in.
"It wasn't pretty football. We played a lot better in the Munster Cup final, but we lost that one."
Munsters demonstrated great resolve and grit up front and none exemplified this more than flanker Ian Dillon who enjoyed an outstanding game whether defending on the fringes of taking the ball into contact.
A generally dour, error-ridden game provided two tries, the first from Shannon flanker David Quinlan following a lineout catch and drive from 15 metres, the second from Munsters' Ger Earls, who profited from Denis O'Dowd's kick and chase and John Lacey's failure to secure the ball safely two metres from his line.
Munsters embrace the Millennium cock-a-hoop; for Shannon the trip to Buccaneers seems less appetising.
Scoring sequence: 18 mins: Burke penalty, 3-0; 22: Cregan penalty, 3-3; 24: Galvin drop goal, 6-3; 34: Cregan penalty, 6-6; 39: D Quinlan try, 11-6; 42: Earls try, 11-11. 43: Galvin drop goal, 14-11; 44: Cregan penalty, 14-14; 46: Burke penalty, 17-14; 50: Cregan penalty, 1717; 76: Cregan penalty, 17-20.
Shannon: J Hayes; J O'Neill, P McMahon, C Burke, J Lacey; J Galvin, P Stringer; M Horan, M McDermott (capt), N Healy; M Galwey, J Langford; D Quinlan, A Quinlan, E Halvey. Replacements: K Keane for Galwey (34 mins); T Hayes for Halvey (73 mins).
Young Munster: T Cregan; D O'Dowd, M Mullins, L Doyle, F Hogan; M Lynch, M Prendergast; D Clohessy, M Hayes, M Fitzpatrick; M O'Halloran, P O'Connell; I Dillon, M te Pau, G Earls. Replacements: P Hanlon for D Clohessy (38 mins); D O'Meara for O'Halloran (63 mins); D McDonagh for Earls (83 mins).
Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).
